I dunno chat, as a Lithuanian (as if it matters) this feels like a bit of an over reach in a war on terror in US type of way. This isn't the only law that explicitly targets Russians/Belarussians as a security threat that has been enacted.

These people are often just nationals, citizens of their country and not automatically foreign agents. If they were here doing espionage, they would report back using encrypted channels on the internet which is much cheaper than traveling back and forth. If they were smuggling tools for terrorism like bombs, it's much easier to smuggle them over the border or even obtain them locally than having the foreign agent themselves smuggle.

I can't help but view it as discriminatory in a similar way how Muslim and Arab populations were treated post-9/11, it just doesn't make much sense unless I'm missing something.

[+] Bloomcole@lemm.ee -7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

The fanatic Russophobia and scaremongering is rampant.
Don't expect people to be reasonable.

[–] el_bhm@lemm.ee 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Ah yes. The country with a main channel having a programme that openly discusses nuking countries. With Meidviedev openly calling for annexation of baltic states. Beliteling other countries.

Country that occupied a lot of Europe and denied independence

Country that invaded Georgia.

Country that annexed Crimea.

Country that genocides Ukraine.

Russophobia came out of nowhere.

russia. The country that did nothing wrong.

[–] Commiunism@beehaw.org 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Pretty much, Russia has definitely earned the reputation even back when it was being "socialist" - it's an imperialist hellhole, one that also meddles in today's politics by funding far-right parties like AfD.

Though, I personally take issue when the russophobia doesn't stop at targeting the state and its ruling class who made these decisions, but to the Russian working class as well, all of whom are getting exploited in the standard capitalist fashion but also a section being conscripted to kill and die for their ruling class benefit and their imperialist interests. That's why it doesn't feel right to me when a country targets Russian nationals with discriminatory laws in a fashion that's not too different from 9/11's treatment of Arab people that most of us can agree was wrong.

load more comments (13 replies)